In a heart-stopping moment deep in the African bush, a newborn elephant narrowly escaped a terrifying encounter with a crocodile. While innocently drinking from a watering hole, the calf’s trunk was suddenly seized by a lurking crocodile. Thanks to its quick-thinking mother and the strength of the herd, the baby elephant was able to escape unharmed. This gripping scene of danger and survival showcases the unpredictability of the wild.
The incident occurred at a drinking hole in the heart of the African forest. The young elephant, still learning the ways of the world, wandered too close to the water’s edge, blissfully unaware of the lurking threat. Out of nowhere, a crocodile emerged from the murky depths and latched onto the calf’s trunk, sending the herd into a frenzy. The elephants trumpeted and snorted in alarm, trying to figure out how to save their defenseless young companion.
The baby elephant, startled and in pain, fought back against the crocodile with surprising tenacity. It stumbled backward, pulling hard to free itself from the reptile’s powerful jaws. The herd watched in amazement as the calf, with help from its mother, managed to overwhelm the crocodile and force it back into the water. The dangerous predator had no choice but to retreat, leaving the young elephant shaken but unharmed.
Francois Borman, a photographer who was in the area at the time, captured the entire event on camera. He had been spending the day in Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools, located in the Zambezi Valley, hoping to see some wildlife action. “This is the last thing I expected to see!” Borman exclaimed after witnessing the dramatic scene. “I was out there for hours, hoping for some movement, but I never imagined something like this would happen.”
Borman, an experienced wildlife photographer, explained that he usually has high expectations when he ventures out with his camera. However, even he was stunned by the intensity of this encounter. “It’s just incredible to witness something like this,” he said. “The local crocodile had been watching the herd of young elephants as they approached the water to drink. It seemed like it spent time sizing up the baby calf, which was playing in the shallows.”
According to Borman, the baby elephant was clearly excited about the water, splashing around and rolling in the deep, muddy pool. “It was obvious the calf didn’t understand the dangers that might be lurking in the murky waters,” he added. The crocodile had been lying in wait, and as soon as the calf ventured too far into the water, it sprang into action, locking its jaws around the young elephant’s trunk.
The rest of the herd quickly gathered around the helpless calf, snorting and trumpeting in an attempt to scare off the crocodile. The baby elephant, with incredible determination, managed to shake off the crocodile and stumbled backward with a little help from its mother. Despite the close call, the calf was safe, thanks to the quick response of the herd.
Borman was amazed by the baby elephant’s reaction. “It didn’t have a care in the world before the attack, and it definitely wasn’t aware of the potential dangers in the water,” he said. The tiny calf, still learning how to use its trunk, had been kneeling down to drink from the water with its lips. Just before the crocodile’s strike, the baby had been practicing how to reach the water with its trunk, which ultimately led to the harrowing encounter.
The struggle between the crocodile and the calf was intense. “It was chaos when the crocodile grabbed onto the baby elephant’s trunk,” Borman recalled. “The calf let out a choking squeal and fought for its life.” Despite the danger, the calf’s resilience was extraordinary. “Time seemed to stand still as the calf resisted. With incredible strength, it managed to pull the crocodile out of the water briefly before it let go.”
As more elephants arrived at the scene, the crocodile finally released its grip and disappeared back into the water. The baby elephant was safe, and Borman captured the entire event on film. “When I saw my pictures, I was overjoyed because I knew they were special,” he said. “Wildlife photographers spend countless hours waiting for moments like this. It’s moments like these that make all the time and effort worth it.”
This remarkable story highlights the dangers young animals face in the wild and the incredible instincts that help them survive. Thanks to the quick actions of the herd and the baby elephant’s determination, this close call ended in triumph.
